I would like to apologize in advance to anyone reading this, I am not really a writer but its the new year and new me and I want to get out of my comfort zone, so here it goes.

In the past, I made mistakes in investing without setting clear goals, buying the hype and not planning for the future . I lost money, not because markets are unfair, but like the majority I let my emotions get the best out of me.

Like many others, I got caught up in the hype around a meme stock ($GME) and sold about $4,000 of a solid long-term position to jump in at the top. At the time, it felt exciting, there was momentum, a sense of community, and the feeling of being part of something bigger. I don’t think I’ve ever checked my investment account more than I did during those weeks.

Then the stock crashed.

When it later bounced back to near breakeven, I had the chance to exit, but greed took over. I convinced myself there was still more upside.

I was wrong.

In 2023, I finally sold the position at roughly an 85% loss. It was a tough lesson, but an important one. Investing without a clear plan, letting emotions drive decisions, and chasing excitement over discipline is a costly mistake and one I won’t repeat.

That experience was frustrating, but it was also necessary.

Losing money taught me something important:
Without clear goals, even good opportunities can turn into bad decisions.

That’s when I decided to change my approach.

I stopped focusing on quick wins and started focusing on Process:

My current goal is simple and measurable:
$5,000 per month in passive income through Canadian dividend investing.

Here, I’ll share:

I don’t write this as someone who has everything figured out.

I write this as someone who is trying to improve, learn, and make better decisions both financially and personally. I want to help others avoid the same missteps I made early on.

Wealth matters, but so does character.
Progress matters, but so does perspective.

This won’t be a newsletter about perfection.
It will be about steady progress, accountability, and doing things the right way.

If even one lesson here helps someone invest with more clarity or confidence, then this project is worth it.

Thanks for being here from the beginning.

— Brandon Zucker